I am a cat lover

This cat was not mine.  I came back from school one day and there she was sitting in front of the door of my house (60 Steavenson Street, Durham).   I asked my housemate to take my picture with this cat.  I didn’t own any cat when I was in Durham.   I couldn’t afford to take care of a cat because the food and whatsnot are not cheap in UK.  A small packet of wet food could cost a pound (I could buy a packet of biscuit with the same amount).  

These two cats stay in my school’s compound.  Mother and daughter.  I just parked my car and haven’t get out yet from my car and both were already waiting for me.   When this thing happens, it always makes my day!

I met this tyke few years ago at Pagoh’s RnR.  I was on my way back from Putrajaya.  It was one long exhaustive week for me and I had no appetite to have dinner.  While waiting for the rest of my busmates, I stood nearby the parking area and suddenly, this little tyke started to rub on my leg.  What a big boy!  I just patted the head.   Not giving him the whole body massage (I was afraid of him to bite me, actually.  So, better takes extra precaution on this).  I still remember my feeling after patting him.   What a good (and cheap) stress reliever!

 

I had this cat for about five years.  He was called as “Merah” (Red).  He did not like any sort of physical affection unless he initiated it.  But normally, he would only allow me to pat on his head ONLY.   When the picture was taken, he and Hadif (my three years old nephew) were eating durian together.  As you can see from the picture, they had a little argument.  Who should get the last piece of durian!  How time flies!  Merah was no longer with us.  He died in late 2009 (not long after this picture was taken).   That boy?  He is 13 years old this year (2019) but he no longer likes durian.  He could not even stand the smell.  Welcome to non-eating durian club, Hadif!  (I also don’t eat and cannot stand the smell of durian even though there are around 10 durian trees around my house that my late dad grew more than 30 years ago).

This is Bubu (Kelabu  or Grey).  He died in 2008 when I was in UK.  He liked to sit on top of my car.  He liked to be held like that.  My two nieces, Halimah and Adibah were holding him in that position.  It is a bit uncensored though.  Please pardon me of that.  I would not photoshop this picture.  I leave it au naturale.  

This is my current princess, Robyn.   I had a little scary moment when something went wrong when I spayed her in 2015.  I spent more than RM1k for her medical treatment.  I even brought her to the office because I needed to bring her to the doctor’s appointment at Global Pet (Taman Universiti branch).  How time flies!  She is such a darling and my little princess even though she could not stand to be held by me (I guess it is due to the traumatic experience of being held when she was sick when I needed to feed her with medication etc.).  She is one of the most polite cats that I ever have because she would give me a little meow whenever she needs something from me (not the loud ear-piercing meow).

I call him, Batman.  He is Robyn’s brother.  He likes to sleep inside a box-shaped place like this.  He has this piercing loud voice.  He doesn’t like to be held like Robyn but I can still cuddle him for a few second.  I make it as a routine before I give him his meal.  As he grows older, he does not like strangers.  Normally, he would stay away from strangers.  [Latest update: he went missing on 4th day of Eid.  The last time I saw him was on Saturday afternoon.  I gave him his last meal around 6pm.  He was not around on Sunday morning.  He is still missing until now]

It has been a while since the last time I watched a movie

Since 2011, I never watch any movie at cinema.   I only watch movies at home which means that whatever movie that I watch will be the “off season” movie.  I don’t feel like I miss out anything from not watching the latest movies.  Reading any movie review is good enough for me.

But, things are different for my nieces.  Apparently, one of them subscribes Netflix and thus, she is quite up-to-date with the latest movies and whatsnot.

Here I was, watching a scary movie called “The curse of La Llorona” on second Eid with the rest of the family.  With small kids as young as 2 years old who have started to know “the meaning” of ghosts and whatsnot, my home was loud with screaming and shrieking of all ages.  The oldest person who also watched the movie was my eldest sister.  After a while, she went to her room to have a quick rest.  After all, too much screaming and shrieking tired her out.  

I didn’t even finish watching the movie.  It is too much actions going on and I just feel too tired to be guarded at all times.  It is not worth to watch something to scare myself, don’t you think so? 😀

P.S: The kids who watched the movie ended up sleeping with their parents at night because they were too scared to sleep without their parents.  

Allah Knows best

Some of my colleagues and I had a chance to collaborate with several researchers from different universities.  This was my first opportunity to work with outsiders.  

Unfortunately, I received the news that our collaboration might not be materialised.  Our grant proposal was rejected.  Our leader was apologetic about it.   Well, there is nothing to apologise.  We had a chance to discuss and meet at UM last June (2 weeks before Ramadan).   This was a new thing for me.  

I am glad that I have such opportunity to meet with other researchers from different universities with different specialisation.  In sha Allah we will have a better chance to conduct research together.  After all, Allah Knows the best gladtidings for us and will always give the best things at the best time.  

Recycle baju kurung for raya? Normal

 

This was my last raya in Durham.  The year is 2010.   When I went to Durham, I only brought one baju kurung.   Since then, I never had any baju kurung for raya.  It is not that I don’t celebrate Eid.  It is just that I feel that it is ok to wear any baju kurung or jubah that I already have.  Sometimes I buy new baju kurung during “off season”, not during raya season.  My policy is, as long as I never take any raya picture with that baju kurung, I can wear it for any raya.  😀 

From left: Lutfi, Kam, Me, Amalina, Fiqah and Hafiz.

 

Eid: Diet went wrong and ……

Eid is one of the times when I find it difficult to maintain “healthy” diet.  Well, it is all about self-discipline, one might say.  But to stay away from overeating is challenging itself unless you don’t go visiting one another – which is the tradition of raya in Malaysia.   

This year around, I don’t know how it might be different from last year.  But one thing for sure, it will be less merrier than when I still have both of my parents.

Eid without my parents

My dad passed away in 2009.  It has been 10 years I celebrate Eid without him.  My mom passed away in 2017.  This year will be my second year celebrating Eid without her.  Since her passing, Eid is not the same.  I don’t have any baju kurung or things that I normally do since she passed away.  It is difficult to keep certain traditions when she was no longer around.  There are times when I feel that I don’t want to spring clean the house even though I know that there will be guests coming etc.  

I started my Eid break today whereas many of my colleagues have started their break since yesterday.   I don’t know why I feel different and I have this feeling since last year.  I know that it is not easy to deal with this alone.  So, I am grateful that I still have my siblings to celebrate the Eid together.   

Once upon a time, a neighbour of mine….

I have known him since I was in Durham.  A former neighbour.  He stayed at 21 Steavenson Street and I stayed at 60 Steavenson Street, Bowburn.   He is someone who has this charismatic qualities that I have seen when I was in Durham.  

When there was a little incident involving one of my housemates, he called for a meeting to discuss the matter.  Alhamdulillah, things were not blown out of proportion.  Well, I appreciate his concerns but the things involved my household thingy so I declined their offer to help me to sort things out.  

As I read the article about him on the newspaper, I know that it is not easy to hold a position like his and I can see that he is trying his very best to make sure that the education system will change for the better during his term in the office.  

All the best, my former neighbour!  In sha Allah you make us Dunelms proud with your achievement!

Rate my professors_Part 1

I know that in the US, they also have similar practice like eppp, but unlike eppp which is internally controlled i.e. by UTM, there are some which are not controlled by any institution.   They have different websites which are independent from any institution such as RateMyProfessorMyEdu.com and UniYu.  But, I have been wondering the effects of such evaluation on many aspects such as improvement of learning experience for future students.  

I have experienced getting not-so-good comments from students because I am strict and assertive.  For example, there are times when I would no longer accept any draft that students send for feedback/comments after certain deadline.  But some students perceive this as tyrannical.  It is as if I am not giving them ample chance to improve their work.  Well, if they send their draft on week 14, a week before their final exam on week 15, when do you think they will submit the “real” assignment?  Week 16?  It will be too late for me to finalise their marks.   Don’t they get it?  I also work based on deadlines.  It is not that I set the deadline based on my whims and fancies.  

Normally, those students who give bad rating and evaluations are not-so-serious students.  Serious studious students would appreciate having instructors who are willing to guide them within certain time frames because they have discipline and able to regulate their learning process.  Students who don’t belong to this category like easy things or prefer if you don’t give “challenging” assignments. 

What a heck!  They are not kindergartners nor school kids.  They are university students who should be mentally prepared to face the challenges of the world and life in general.  We don’t need softies strawberry cotton candy individuals who cannot withstand any challenge or problems.  We have lots of problems and challenges to face and we need to have endurance to withstand anything that might come in our life.  

So, what should we do with the evaluations that students give?  Well, I found an article which explains in detailed how we should use whatever comments that students give with “wisdom”.  There are also research on this.   That’s I will explain in the next post.

 

 

 

You add colors to my life

I could be perceived as someone who is uptight and serious.  I do admit that I don’t know how to have “fun”.  But things change when I went to Durham and I met a bunch of people who are fun, playful and yet they are committed in their work (they are also academically excellent).  I don’t know how they can strike a balance to have fun and at the same time stay focused in their study.  But, I learn a great deal from them.  

One of those individuals are Yasmin Ahmad Rusli, fondly known as Min.  Min is an exceptional lady.  When she pursued her masters degree in Durham, she had a long distance relationship with her husband, Samir.  But, from her story and all, I learn to know about Samir even though I never met him before.  I met Samir once when he came to Durham in summer 2008 (Min and Samir went to Paris after that for a short holiday).

The picture was taken when we went to York for a shopping spree.  We bought quite a lot of things.  It is not that we intently wanted to splurge like that but for me, I bought some of cookery thingy (that I still have and use until now) and clothes (which I could no longer wear because the clothes are no longer fit.  I have gained weight since then). 

When I look at this picture, Min and I looked so happy.  Indeed.  Min is one of my best confidantes when I was in Durham.  We shared some ups and downs especially when we had a problem with our housemate of no 12 Steavenson Street.  But things changed for the better afterwards when I moved to no 60 Steavenson Street, Bowburn.  Thing happens for a reason.  Alhamdulillah Allah Gives me a friend like Min to share my woes and happiness. 

Indeed it is true that “A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked“- Bernard Meltzer-

BBQ chicken wings

This is one of my famous signature dishes when I was in Durham.   The ingredients are simple yet now it is difficult to find some of it in Malaysia.  So, I don’t make any now.   Well, I can easily go to Nando’s or Kenny Roger’s or Pizza Hut to eat this.  I don’t have to prepare it myself.   

The recipe?  I need to find my cook book where I wrote all the recipes of the dishes that I cooked in Durham.  Once upon a time ago.  Indeed.